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Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoKyle Robertson | DispatchHolley Mangold, who lives in Columbus, earns a place on the U.S. Olympic team by totaling 255 kilograms (561 pounds) on two lifts.

A central Ohioan didn’t have to go far to punch her ticket to the London Olympic Games.

Columbus resident and super-heavyweight Holley Mangold snatched, cleaned and jerked her way onto
the U.S. Olympic weightlifting team today in the closing hours of the Arnold Sports Festival.

Mangold, one of 15 qualifiers for the U.S. Olympic Trials, finished second to fellow heavyweight
Sarah Robles of Mesa, Ariz., and earned one of two available spots on the U.S. Olympic team.

Robles and Mangold lifted a total of 258 (567.6 pounds) and 255 kilograms (561 pounds),
respectively. They had the highest qualifying standard of the 15 competitors and earned their spots
based on their projected ability to win a medal in London.

Mangold, who stands 5 feet 8 and weighed in at 354 pounds today, long has had Olympic dreams.
She aspired to be a diver or gymnast.

“I’ve always wanted to be an Olympic athlete but I always thought I was going to do it in
diving,” said Mangold, a native of Centerville and former high-school football player.

“My body just didn’t work out for that one. I had to go with a different sport, I guess.”

Mangold’s coach, Mark Cannella of the Columbus Weightlifting Club, said Mangold improved her
lifts by 35 kilograms (77 pounds) in the year she has been working with him.

“She’s gone from dark horse to Olympian,” Cannella said.

“She has improved incredibly in big competitions. This was no different. She was money when she
needed to be. That’s the heart of a champion.”

Other coaches consumed themselves with Miyagi-like rubdowns and motivational thigh slaps before
their lifters in lower weight classes approached the platform.

But the heavyweights — Robles, Mangold and Chioma Amaechi — were the star attractions. They
entered the contest ranked first, second and fifth in the U.S.

With older brother, former Buckeye and current NFL center Nick and several other family members
looking on, Mangold, 22, boosted 105 (231 pounds) and 110 kilograms (242) with ease on her first
two attempts in the snatch but couldn’t complete her try at 115 (253).

She lifted 145 kilograms (319 pounds) on her third and final attempt in the clean and jerk.

Robles, after requesting some weight changes in a bit of gamesmanship, completed snatches of 110
(242 pounds) and 114 kilograms (250.8).

She was unable to cleanly finish her attempt at 117 (257.4) but hoisted 144 (316.8) in the clean
and jerk.